Dana White: ‘(Anderson Silva) Is My Favorite Fighter Ever’

Everyone has heard the stories about how eccentric some star athletes can be or the requests of a rock star.

Jokes passed around about how certain musicians want their dressing rooms filled with a certain kind of flower or a bowl filled with only blue M&M candies. It’s all part of the superstar lifestyle, but many very eclectic people have the status and magnitude to make those kinds of demands.

Well UFC President Dana White says that dealing with UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is sometimes exactly like that, but it’s not a bad thing.

Over the last six years, Silva has not only defended his middleweight title a record of 10 consecutive times, but he’s managed to become widely recognized as the greatest mixed martial artist of this or any era.

That kind of reputation makes Silva fly a little higher as an eagle than some of the other pigeons on the ground below.

“Anderson is such a unique individual to deal with. You know, you’ve seen me, I’ve butted heads with this guy and that guy and we fight and we argue, it’s such a different process when I’m dealing with this guy and I respect him so much, I swear to god it’s like dealing with an artist,” White said after UFC 148 ended.

“It’s like dealing with an artist or some big, crazy talented actor, that’s what it’s like. The guy is a fighter and he fights. The two times he went to 205 wasn’t because he wanted to, it’s cause I asked him to.”

On a daily basis, White has to deal with a lot of different personalities. Sure, all of the competitors in the UFC are fighters, but don’t let anyone fool you and say they are all the same because they get punched in the head for a living.

In Anderson Silva’s case he’s earned the right to receive a little special treatment from time to time, but to hear White tell it, he enjoys the process.

It’s not always easy and sometimes it requires a little more work from White and his team than with other fighters, but the chance to deal with Anderson Silva is something he relishes.

“It’s so complex and hard to explain, but I actually like doing it. I love being involved in every aspect of the business with this guy,” said White. “I love to watch him fight, the anticipation and the build up to watch this guy do what he does is seriously one of the favorite parts of my job.”

White has been involved in the fight business for most of his adult life in one form or fashion, and over the last decade he’s been all about the UFC so he’s seen a lot of great fighters come and go.

There is no question however who his favorite fighter is, was and maybe always will be.

“This guy is my favorite fighter ever,” White said about Silva. “He really is and as hard as he is to deal with, I just love it, I love dealing with this guy.”